Business of Architecture Podcast

This week, I'm speaking with the Co-Founder of Studio Banana, Key Kawamura. Studio Banana founders Key Kawamura and Ali Ganjavian met and became fast friends while attending the University of East London for their architecture degrees. Not quite fitting into the places they were working in, they decided to start their own architecture and product design firm, Studio Banana in 2007, further expanding into a wide breadth of creative projects and developing a rich repertoire of entrepreneurial projects in the fields of transdisciplinary creativity, communication, design-led innovation, and education. Studio Banana is responsible for the globally acclaimed OSTRICHPILLOW® and involved in high-yield, high-impact innovative projects for clients such as United Nations, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Al Jazeera, Ernst & Young, Qatar Foundation, BBDO, McCann Erickson, Santander Bank, Vodafone or Telefonica, among others. In 2019, they published "Work Out of the Box," a collection of conversations with industry leaders and case studies from their portfolio to break design-driven transformation down into 13 core principles as a sort of manifesto on how to design work environments and work cultures. In this episode, Key offers up a great vantage point into the philosophy of Studio Banana, the company culture, their business strategy, and deployment methodology. We also explore the perceived dichotomy between business and creativity, and how an understanding of the constraints and the tension between the two produces an environment where innovation can flourish. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

This week, I'm speaking with Wendy Dunnam Tita, Principal at Page. Early in her career, Wendy worked for the residential practice of Ike and Kligerman in New York and, in 1995, became the Vice President of the firm of Page Southerland Page in Austin. In 2002, she set off and operated her own boutique practice in Austin and Hood River, Oregon, returning to Page in 2013 as Principal and Director of the Interior Architect Division of Page, which she has been running for about 8 years. She was also the 2018's Board President of AIA Austin, and currently chairs the group's Women in Architecture committee. In this episode, Wendy shares insights into her role in Page and the root of her success as a leader. We also discuss the importance of communication and transparency in dealing with your clients and within the firm to nurture a more collaborative environment and bridging the connection between design and people. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

This week, I'm speaking with Wendy Dunnam Tita, Principal at Page. Early in her career, Wendy worked for the residential practice of Ike and Kligerman in New York and, in 1995, became the Vice President of the firm of Page Southerland Page in Austin. In 2002, she set off and operated her own boutique practice in Austin and Hood River, Oregon, returning to Page in 2013 as Principal and Director of the Interior Architect Division of Page, which she has been running for about 8 years. She was also the 2018's Board President of AIA Austin, and currently chairs the group's Women in Architecture committee. In this episode, Wendy shares insights into her role in Page and the root of her success as a leader. We also discuss the importance of communication and transparency in dealing with your clients and within the firm to nurture a more collaborative environment and bridging the connection between design and people. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

This week, I'm speaking with Wendy Dunnam Tita, Principal at Page. Early in her career, Wendy worked for the residential practice of Ike and Kligerman in New York and, in 1995, became the Vice President of the firm of Page Southerland Page in Austin. In 2002, she set off and operated her own boutique practice in Austin and Hood River, Oregon, returning to Page in 2013 as Principal and Director of the Interior Architect Division of Page, which she has been running for about 8 years. She was also the 2018's Board President of AIA Austin, and currently chairs the group's Women in Architecture committee. In this episode, Wendy shares insights into her role in Page and the root of her success as a leader. We also discuss the importance of communication and transparency in dealing with your clients and within the firm to nurture a more collaborative environment and bridging the connection between design and people. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

This week, I'm speaking with Wendy Dunnam Tita, Principal at Page. Early in her career, Wendy worked for the residential practice of Ike and Kligerman in New York and, in 1995, became the Vice President of the firm of Page Southerland Page in Austin. In 2002, she set off and operated her own boutique practice in Austin and Hood River, Oregon, returning to Page in 2013 as Principal and Director of the Interior Architect Division of Page, which she has been running for about 8 years. She was also the 2018's Board President of AIA Austin, and currently chairs the group's Women in Architecture committee. In this episode, Wendy shares insights into her role in Page and the root of her success as a leader. We also discuss the importance of communication and transparency in dealing with your clients and within the firm to nurture a more collaborative environment and bridging the connection between design and people. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

This week, we're taking a human-centered approach to architecture discussions with Dr. Tyrone Yang. Tyrone graduated with a Master's in Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 2002. He also has a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from the University of Virginia and a BA in Psychology from Cornell University. Currently, he has recently founded Architectural Health and Yang Architects. Before doing that, he worked as a designer and project manager at Butz + Klug, RIZVI Architects, and also Moshe Safdie and Associates and worked on a large array of projects. Tyrone's academic involvement includes classes in Psychology and Research Methods at the University of Virginia and classes in Human Factors and Sustainable Architecture at Wentworth Institute of Technology. He's also worked as an affiliate researcher and course collaborator at the City Science / Changing Places Group at the MIT Media Lab. Currently, he's teaching Environmental Design Research at the Department of Architecture at Roger Williams University. Tyrone is both a licensed architect and a member of the AIA and the Boston Society of Architects, where he has co-chaired the Small Practices Network. In this conversation, we discuss the overlaps and how Dr. Yang's research into cognitive psychology has underpinned his architectural approach, how that has manifested in his current entrepreneurship ventures and business ventures, and how positioned himself as one of the world's leading, healthy building design consultants. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

This week, I am speaking with the award-winning architect and designer Suman Sorg, a fellow of the AIA and founder of Sorg Architects. She has also recently formed a non-profit design firm, A Complete Unknown, in her home in Washington DC. The A Complete Unknown design firm has a mission to promote social justice, peace, and unity through architecture and design. Suman has over 30 years of building a successful architecture practice. Some of her notable projects include John and Jill Ker Conway Residence for formerly homeless veterans and the Southern Regional Technology and Recreation Center in Fort Washington. In this episode, Suman explains and discusses her career, how she founded Sorg Architects and how she transitioned from that practice into creating A Complete Unknown, and the intentions behind doing that. She summarizes her philosophy and goes into a lot of depth into her experience and overview in her career and how to run a profitable and successful architecture firm. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

This week, I'm speaking to Mike Grosswendt who is the CEO and Founder of All Coast Construction, a construction company based on the west coast of the US. Mike focuses his attention onto new construction and restorations. He's worked with many world-renowned architects. He's worked with an incredible array of A-list celebrities as well including Quincy Jones. He's recently completed the home of Robert Downey Junior and his wife Susan, which is based in Malibu; quite an incredible and unusual architectural feat. He's currently working on a remodel of a 27,000 sq ft home for Charles Gwathmey, again, in Malibu. In this conversation, Mike and I talked about his beginnings, how he began as a carpenter, and how he won projects in the early days. We get a really good insight into the workings of a construction business, how a contractor views modern construction, what makes a good relationship between contractor and architect, and all the different nuances of making construction profitable, and the complexities of running a business. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

This week, I'm speaking with Mark Weaver and Darrell Wilson of Mark Weaver Associates. Mark Weaver Associates is a full-service design firm based in Los Angeles that was founded in 1970. Since then, they have built an impressive portfolio of work with residential installations, they worked on private aircraft, yachts, and even private island retreats in a vast array of locations from Los Angeles to New York City to London, and also in Italy. Mark has been recognized by a breadth of national and international publications and has earned himself a loyal following of clients from around the world. He regularly lectures at UCLA and is a founding member of both the LA Museum of Contemporary Art and the Institute of Classical Architecture and Art. Darrell is the Principal Designer at Mark Weaver Associates, and they've been working together for the best part of 20 years. His approach to design has been shaped by a wide range of influences from mid-century Italian and French furniture to classical architecture. Darrell's perspective is from very much an architectural background. In this episode, we discuss how Mark and Darrell create long-lasting client relationships that bring regular projects into their business and that last for decades. We also talk about how to navigate the time-based pricing versus value-based pricing conundrum that many architects and designers face in their businesses. We also look at how to responsibly manage your clients' money within a project. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!

This week, I am talking to Los Angeles-based interior designer, Ryan Saghian, who is emerging as one of the most formidable talents, inspiring many young people that they too can follow their dreams. Ryan is only 28, and even before hitting his 30th birthday, he's overcome many challenges to find international acclaim, become a social media darling, and is now building his product empire. Ryan has been brought up in LA and founded his interior design firm at the young age of 21. He has since become a go-to designer for discerning clientele and A-list celebrities alike who revere his raw yet refined sensibilities. Ryan's firm has completed some extraordinary projects, including luxury homes in Beverly Hills, Bel Air, New York City, and a $40 million private residence at the Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, Mexico. In this interview, we talk a lot about how Ryan has grown the practice, how he's used social media to leverage and win work, how he interviews his clients and has them enrolled into his design vision and methods of working. ► Access your free training at http://SmartPracticeMethod.com/ ► If you want to speak directly to our advisors, book a call at https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/call ► Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for updates: https://www.youtube.com/c/BusinessofArchitecture ******* For more free tools and resources for running a profitable, impactful, and fulfilling practice, connect with me on: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/businessofarchitecture Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enoch.sears/ Website: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/BusinessofArch Podcast: http://www.businessofarchitecture.com/podcast/ iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/business-architecture-podcast/id588987926 Android Podcast Feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/BusinessofArchitecture-podcast ******* Access the FREE Architecture Firm Profit Map video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Download the FREE Architecture Firm Marketing Process Flowchart video here: http://freearchitectgift.com Come to my next live, in-person event: https://www.businessofarchitecture.com/live Carpe Diem!